Celebrate Stewardship Week

Stewardship Week was established by the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) in 1955 and runs April 29 – May 6 this year. It is a week set aside annually to promote stewardship, or the conservation and the wise use of our natural resources, such as water, soil, forests and habitat. The program is administered by 3,000 conservation districts across the United States. It serves as a reminder that each individual has the ability to conserve our natural resources and improve our world.

The theme for 2018 is “Watersheds: Our Water, Our Home”. Water is one of our most precious resources, and we all live in a watershed. There are 2,100 watersheds in the continental U.S. Many people on Earth don’t have access to safe, clean, fresh water, but it is necessary to maintain all life on Earth as we know it. The human body is comprised of approximately 60% water (for the average adult). Having available, clean water is important to everyone, whether it be for drinking water, recreation, irrigation, manufacturing, or habitat for wildlife.

While 71% of the Earth’s surface is covered in water, 97% of that is in the oceans. Only 3% of the water on earth is fresh water. Of the 3% that is freshwater, glaciers and icecaps account for 69%, groundwater accounts for 30% and accessible surface water comprises only 1%. The Earth is considered to be pretty much a “closed system”, like a terrarium. The Earth, as a whole, neither really gains nor loses water. The water we have now is the same water that existed in the time of dinosaurs. The water is constantly moving and changing form, from liquid to vapor and ice. It is up to each of us to do our best to keep our fresh water supplies healthy and clean.

The Muskingum Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) is proud to support Soil and Water Stewardship Week 2018. For more information contact the Muskingum SWCD at 740-454-2027 or at www.muskingumswcd.org. More information and teaching resources can be found at the NACD website at www.nacdnet.org/genral-resources/stewarship-and-education-materials/2018-watersheds-water-home/ .